The Hard Numbers on Social Security

Jettisoning the cap on taxable earnings wouldn't get us even halfway to a solution.

By

William A. Galston

July 15, 2014 7:55 p.m. ET

Utah Republican Orrin Hatch is a veteran senator who knows how to get things done, often on a bipartisan basis. As ranking member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee, he would be the odds-on favorite to become chairman if the Republicans take control of the Senate in November. So it is worth paying attention to what he does.

Some time ago, Sen. Hatch posed a series of questions to the Congressional Budget Office about the effects of possible policy changes on the long-term solvency of Social Security. All of the...